Just seen this on mumsnet and have to say I am slightly aghast! Can't imagine my DDs being very happy were i to tell them i felt like breastfeeding any of my grandchildren... [http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/telly_addicts/1967494-Vanessa-Feltz-wants-to-breastfeed-her-grandson]
I will admit that I actually felt the want to breastfeed my own grandchild in this way. She was well-fed (breast in this case) by my daughter and there were no problems but it was something I definitely felt. I was postmenopausal at the time.
I hope I haven't offended anyone but I thought it important enough to mention and I am not promoting breastfeeding or grannyfeeding.
I also have always had modest boobs but breastfed three children. I don't think it matters whether you are big or small as my daughter has very large ones and managed it. I will ask her about the latching on part.
don't think a breast pump would work from a standing start. More suction than suck-ing, but I could be wrong. Would you like to do the experiment jingle - and we could publish the results on this thread? Along with the video?
You know, I've learned a lot of things since I've been on gransnet, with the wealth of knowledge that's on here but I think this is the most amazing thing I've learned thus far. I sort of want to go out and tell people [but it's not the sort of thing that crops up in every day conversation ]. I also wonder if the idea that you need a 'decent' wet nurse may not have a slight grain of truth to it in that perhaps breast feeding a baby that has, perhaps come from a troubled family imparts more than just food and comfort to the child? Fascinating. I also wonder if adoptive parents are told about this?
Thanks for your info Jess. Really fascinating. Have you known anybody to actually do this? I too lived for a time in Africa Papaoscar and saw family members helping out with baby feeding but usually they were young woman. Saw older women looking after the older children and nursing mothers but never breast feeding.
Frankly, I just wouldn't fancy it myself at this time of life. Especially as I am missing a bit of the necessary equipment!
Only thing is that my 20 month old kept bouncing up and down on the bed , so it was all a bit fraught, to say the least. me and the babies were going from side to side . Had to end sad to say . there you go !! slighty .
I've known this happen with dogs. Two of our pups went to a home that already had an elderly, virgin bitch. She started to mother them, lick them, snuggle up with them. The puppies, even though they were weaned, tried to suckle her and she start lactating within 24 hours. Nature is amazing.